Apple Cider Vinegar for blood sugar control?

[mermaid]

I was reading on several internet sites about apple cider vinegar being used to lower blood sugar by apparently quite a number of people. Some claimed it could lower it by 100+ points overnight. Some claimed it was a metformin substitute but without side effects.

I pursposely have not provided links because I don't necessarily want to endorse any of the sites that discussed this information. It is pretty easy to google though. Lots of discussion about this.

Here is my limited experience:
The first time I tried a TBSP of unflitered organic apple cider vinegar (ACV) in 6 ounces of water it gave me heartburn all night, but my blood sugar dropped from 104 to 94 overnight. Usually it stays the same or goes up, so I figure it caused about a 10-point drop. Then I tried it during the day and it was not easy to tell if it had an effect. I got the heartburn again and it lasted for days. I had not been having heartburn problems, so it was the ACV causing it.

So last night I took at ACV pill (Swanson Vitamins) and woke up to an 88 blood sugar, down from 117 the night before. My conclusion: nice drop into the normal range from the ACV pill. Also, no heartburn at all this time, and woke up feeling super great, couldn't wait to get on the elliptical and rock out and start cleaning the house.

Lately, when my blood sugar enters the normal range due to strict calorie/carb restriction I feel awful, probably because my body has not experienced normal blood sugars in about two years. This morning, however, the 88 BS came with a surge of energy, not foggy lethargy.

I do not take meds for diabetes, mainly due to not having insurance, but also because low carb seems to keep it fairly under control. However, I have had some nasty surprises, like filmy eyes (catarracts in the making??) and a weird bump on my leg that fits the description of a diabetic problem. Sometimes I get those neuropathic twinges too. So the battle is definitely not won! That is why I went to under 10 grams of carbs (most days) and 1600 calories or less (most days--not perfect!), also less than 100 grams protein a day.

I am 45 and perimenopausal, also with low thyroid to top it all off. Hormone soup, and it ain't fun.

I have found some powerful herbal formulae that also lower my blood sugar, but result in my feeling very stoned for hours and it just isn't worth it. What is exciting about the ACV, is that it seems to not make me feel stoned. And now that I have the pills, the burning esophagus seems to have been remedied.

I am curious if anyone else has tried ACV for lowering blood sugar, and how it compares to metformin or other things. Anybody up for an experiment? Nursemonkee, have you been trying it?

[BABSY]

where do you get the vinegar pills?

[mermaid]

Originally Posted by BABSY

where do you get the vinegar pills?

Mine are Swanson brand I order from them. What I have now is the 200 mg, and I just ordered the 650 mg for about $7/250 (or something like that). I don't know who else might carry them.

Oh, and I found these warnings, just to be on the up and up:
*Always seek the professional advice of your primary care physician or other licensed health care practitioner before you seek to lower blood sugar with apple cider vinegar.

*Do not take more than 2 teaspoons of undiluted apple cider vinegar a day. Taken in large doses over an extended period it tends to erode the enamel off your teeth and cause burns in the mouth and throat. [My note: Taking the pills would eliminate this possiblity.]

*Females suffering from osteoporosis should avoid apple cider vinegar, because it has been shown to reduce bone density if used over an extended period of time.

*Never use of apple cider vinegar with laxatives, diuretics or heart medication.

[crtrpter]

I've been diabetic since Feb. '06. I've lost about 40 pounds with dieting and exercise. I prefer to call it a life style change. I've never tried apple cidar vinegar. What works for me is if my blood sugar goes up too much I go jump on the eliptical for 20-30 minutes and can drop anywhere from 30 to 80 points. Now, it can go back up a little bit if it was the ice cream that did it.

I went to meal planning classes for diabetics and the lady said that we should have at a minimum of 130 carbs a day just to keep our brains functioning properly. She's a low carb fan, but not the Atkins low. When I complained to her about feeling "weird" at 93 she said my body hasn't seen 93for years and I'll get used to it.

Metformin is really cheap. I didn't have insurance when first diagonosed, but the metformin sure brought the diabetes into line in a hurry. I went from BS of 253 A1c of 7.5 to BS 85-125 and A1c of 5.6 in just a few months.

Della

I consistently lose weight if I watch my carbs and exercise.

[NurseMonkee]

Originally Posted by mermaid

I am curious if anyone else has tried ACV for lowering blood sugar, and how it compares to metformin or other things. Anybody up for an experiment? Nursemonkee, have you been trying it?

I always had luck with red wine vinegar, but stopped using it when I went on a yeast detox. I've tried ACV capsules before and it didn't work for me. I don't think that it is the same as actually taking in the ACV in liquid form. Maybe it is more potent that way?

I love vinegar, but I can't stand ACV. I've tried drinking it straight and also adding it to drinks, but ack, so gross. What I did today is add a bunch of cucumber slices in a jar w/seasonings, lemon and braggs.

INGREDIENTS:
1c. Braggs ACV
1 lemon, juice & inners
12 oz. english cucumber, peeled
To taste: redmonds sea salt, paprika, red pepper flakes, oregano, black pepper, garlic powder

INSTRUCTIONS:
Combine all ingredients
Shake, shake, shake.
Put in refrigerator

TO EAT:
Pull a couple of cucumber slices, pinch nose, chew.
While continuing to pinch nose, scoop 1T of juice and drink.
Chase it with a glass of water
Unpinch nose.
DONE.

LOL. Yes, I pinch my nose. That is the only way I can stomach ACV.

I have my highest B/S reading in the morning when I get the dawn phen, so for the next month I will eat the slices of cucumber and acv/juice in the evening to see if I show lower morning numbers.

I'll report back.

P.S. I am on metformin now, but I went a few months on my own without meds. I wanted to see if I could lower my numbers on my own through exercise and diet. In addition to low-carb, I also had red wine vinegar with lunch and dinner and also took MILK THISTLE. I always had lower numbers when I took the MT. When I would stop, my numbers would be higher. YMMV, but for me MT totally worked. Even now, I still take it.

[mermaid]

Nursemonkee,
I'll look forward to hearing about your results. I did read also how other types of vinegars help BS. I wonder about rice vinegar, because that's the only one I seem to be able to stomach. Just simply cannot handle ACV in liquid form except a little in "honey" mustard dressing that I make.

Had too many carbs and protein last night, probably some MSG too since I feel puffy, and the ACV pill did not seem to help this time. I think I need to not eat Trader Joe's pesto turkey burgers any more. They taste good, but do not affect me well. Also approaching TOM, so things are likely to get a little whacky.

Milk thistle does not lower my blood sugar, but I take it anyway because I know my liver needs help. Same goes for curcumin.

The most potent blood sugar lowering thing I've experienced is Geromatrix glucose balance AF. One pill can zoom me from 200 to 100-120 in about an hour. Only trouble is it makes me feel so groggy and "stoned" that I can't function for several hours afterward. Now I don't get over around 130 anyway, so those pills are way too powerful for me. Might be good for people who buy into the high carb model of controlling diabetes, though.

Nature's Way blood sugar formula also helps me, but only if I combine it with exercise, and then I also get a stoned feeling on that too. I wonder if it's just my peculiar problem to have that side effect of blood sugar lowering. If it weren't for that, I could keep my blood sugar normal almost all the time, I think. But I have a busy life that requires excellent functioning throughout the day. I need to avoid those crashes.

[sherlynn9]

Haven't noticed that acv lowers my blood sugar. It does help some with appetite control and I use it for yeast control. Can't do it straight but mix it with lc drink mixes and extra sweetener.

Sheryl

[mermaid]

I think it doesn't work for me, and still causes heartburn. It looked at first like it would help, but I have to say now that I don't want to take it any more, either the pill or liquid form.

Anyone else wanting to try it or comment feel free to use this thread to report your results. It is obviously helpful to some people out there, as I read many personal accounts of it from several different sources.

[tortoise2]

Although not "apple cider vinegar", one vinegar option is adding mustard and relish condiments to the diet, if the added sodium is acceptable.

[debkeversole]

Apple Cider Vinegar weight loss wonder


Apple Cider Vinegar

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/be...hlight=vinegar

loads of good info in these threads!

maybe you took too big a spoonful at once??